Ventilated closure



May 13, 1947.

L. BISHOP VENTILATED CLOSURE Filed Dec. 28, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l May l3, 1947. 'L. BISHOP VENTILATED CLOSURE "med Dec. 28, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor L )L E BISHOP May 13, 1947. BISHOP 2,420,297

VENTiLATED CLOSURE Filed De'c. 28, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet s Inventor L n 1: filswop @Maaii' Patented May 13, 1947' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATED CLOSURE Lyle Bishop, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 28, 1943, Serial No. 515,947

3 Claims.

My invention relates to ventilated closures of the general type forming the subject matter of my United States Patent No. 2,290,463, dated July 21, 1942, and over which the instant invention is designed as an improvement.

The present invention is designed with the principal objects in view of providing a closure embodying glass shutters, or slats, arranged to open and close in overlapping relation in a manner such that rain and the like cannot beat through the closure when the shutters are either open or closed, and which close and open in a narrow space so that the shutters are particularly adapted for installation in narrow doorways or window frames.

Another object is to provide in such ventilated closures improved means for overbalancing the shutters, or slats, to cause the same to open under the influence of gravity, and for closing of the glass shutters, or slats, in engaging relation throughout the entire length thereof, also to provide against leakage of rain, snow, and the like, past the ends of the shutters, or slats, and for reinforcing said ends against breakage and in a manner to prevent said shutters from twisting.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improveinents, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved ventilated closure viewed from the inner side thereof,

Figure ,2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale, the shutters, or slats, being shown as closed in full line and open in dotted lines, and said shutters being shown in end elevation,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section drawn to a further enlarged scale of two adjoining shutters, or slats, together with the end guard plates therefor, shown in elevation, and illustrating the closed and opened position of the shutters, or slats, and the corresponding positions of the guard plates in full and dotted lines, respectively,

Figure 4 is a detail view in horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale, the shutters, or slats, being shown closed and the other parts in corresponding positions,

Figure 5 is a similar view with the shutters, or slats, open,

Figure 6 is a view of one of the shutter supports viewed from the outer side,

Figure 7 is a similar view looking at the inner side of the holder,

Figure 8 is a similar view of one of the guard plates,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of one of the shutters, or slats, and one of the holders viewed from the inner side of the closure,'and

Figure 10 is a similar view looking at the outer side.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my improved closure embodies a rectangular frame structure, designated generally I, which is designed, as illustrated, to fit in a doorway opening 2 but is also adapted to fit in a window frame if desired.

The frame structure I comprises outer, vertical side stiles 3 suitably connected by a header 4, and a sill strip -5. The header 4 and sill strip 5 are narrower than the side stiles -3 and offset to the outer side of the frame structure i for a purpose presently seen. A pair of inner side stiles 6 of less width than the side stiles 3 are provided in said structure I which are offset inwardly of said outer stiles 3 and toward the outer, or rear, side of the structure I to provide open front chambers 'I in the rear of said structure. At the outer side of the structure I the chambers 1 are closed by vertical panels 8. Horizontal top and bottom stop strips 9, H! are provided at the outer side of the structure I to establish the position of the structure in the opening 2. Finishing strips H are provided along the upper and side edges of the opening 2 on the inner side of the frame structure I.

A series of panel-like, glass shutters, or slats l2 are arranged in frontof the inner side stiles 6, between the side stiles 3, with the bottom edges of each overlapping the upper edge of the subjacent shutter and with ends extending past the inner side stiles 6 and spaced slightly from the outer side stiles 3 to provide a clearance for a purpose presently seen.-

End supports l3 are provided for the ends of the shutters l2, and which are best shown in Figures 6, 7, 9 and 10. The end supports l3 are of clip-like, channel form and suitable light, strong metal, and fit snugly over the ends of the shutters 12 to extend along said ends. Each support l3 comprises a back l4, right angled back and front flanges I5, I 6 on said back, a right angled lower end lip I! on which the bottom edge of the shutter I2 rests, and an open upper end II. The ends of the shutters I2 may be secured in the supports I3 by cement, not shown, or by any other suitable means. The front flange ll ofeach support i3 is cut away, asat I3, at the lower end of the support so that the bottom edge of the shutter I2 supported thereby may overlap the upper edge of the subjacent shutter I2 flush, and the rear flang I5 is similarly cut away, as at 20, so that the next higher shutter i2 may similarly overlap a subiacent shutter I2. A pair of upper and lower pivot studs 2 I, 22 extend from the back I I of each support adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. The lower studs 22 are Journaled in the outer side stiles 3, in vertical alignment, and offset outwardly, or rearwardly, of the median planes of the shutters I2. The upper studs 2I are similarly offset, but forwardly of said planes of said shutters I2 and are journaled, in vertical alignment, in the rear edge portion of a rectangular shutter-operating frame 23 including a top member 24 adapted to abut the top of the opening 2 and the header 4, when the shutters I2 are closed, side members 25 fitting in between the side stiles 3, and a bottom stop member 26 having an inclined bottom face 21 adapted to engage a similarly inclined, or beveled, bottom stop strip 23, when the shutters I2 are opened, said stop strip 23 extending along the inner edge of the bottom of the opening 2 be tween the side stiles 3. The inner edges of the side stiles 3 are provided with vertical, internal rabbets 29 in which the reduced outer edge 33 of the side members 25 fit and work in spaced relation to the supports I3. An internal rib 3| is provided in the frame 23 to extend along the top and side members 24, 25 thereof to hide the space between said supports 30 and said reduced edges l3 and also the top edge of the uppermost shutter I2. The stop member 25, when the shutters I2 are closed. abuts the inner face of the lowermost shutter I2 along its bottom to form a seal therewith, and bridges a drain space 32 between the sill strip 5 and stop strip 28 opening into a drain channel 33 provided in the sub-structure 3| and bottom stop III and which inclines toward the outer side of the opening 2 or structure I.

A guard plate 35, tapering edgewise downwardly, and having an arcuate upper edge portion 36, is mounted oneach support I4 to extend therefrom toward the outer side of the structure I into the space I, said plate being provided with a pair of upper and lower end apertures 31, 33, respectively, adapted to fit over the studs 2|, 22 of the supports so that the plate fits flush against the back I3 of the support. The guard plates 35 are arranged with the ends of alternate plates overlapping the ends of intermediate plates and are of the proper width to extend into the spaces 1 when the shutters I2 are either opened or closed.

Suitable latches 33 are provided on the side flnishing strips Ii to enter sockets 43 in the side members 25 of the operating frame 23 and releasably hold the frame stationary when the shutters l2 are closed.

As will now be seen, because of the described onset arrangement of the studs 2|, 22, the shutters I2 are overbalanced to open quickly under the influence of gravity and the weight of the operating frame 23, said frame dropping downwardLv and inwardly of the structure I until the stop member 26 rests on the stop strip 23 to establish the open position of the shutters I 2. Also, the shutters I2 and operating frame 23 may assums closing position in compact relation to oecupy a minimum of space in the frame structure I. The supports I3 provide for utilizing glass shutters throughout the structure, flush closing of the shutters, and prevent twisting and breaking of the shutters, as will be obvious. The guard plates 35 and the inner and outerstile arrangement of the structure I prevents rain or snow. or the like, from beating inat the sides of the structure I either when the shutters I2 are closed or open, and tend to function in the manner of Weatherstripping when said shutters are closed. Rain dripping down the outer sides of the shutters I2 is prevented from leaking in past the stop member 23 and the stop strip 23. Also, when the shutters I2 are closed, the overlapping edges thereof form weatherproof seals between the shutters, and when said shutters are open they overlap so that no sight openings are provided between the same.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufllce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closure for use in the opening formed by a doorway or the like comprising a recta gular frame structure adapted to fit in said opening and including side stiles, a plurality of glass slats of planar form, respectively, extending across said structure in upstanding position with lower edges overlapping the upper edges of subjacent slats. pivotal studs mounted on the ends of said slats at the lower corners thereof and journaled in said stiles in vertical alignment and. whereby the slats are mounted to swing downwardly into open position, a slat-operating frame movable upwardly and downwardly of the frame structure to close and open the slats andhaving side members, respectively, studs mounted on the ends of the slats adjacent their upper edges and journaled in the side members of said operating frame in vertical alignment, the first and second mentioned studs being oifset upon opposite sides of the median planes of the slats to overbalanee said slats for downward swinging under the influence of gravity and the weight of said operating frame, said slatoperating frame embodying a bottom member abutting the lowermost slat above the pivotal studs thereof when said slats are-closed to form together with said bottom slat a seal at the bottom of said opening and tending to maintain said bottom slat closed.

2. A closure for use in the opening formed by a door way or the like comprising a rectangular frame structure adapted to fit in said opening and including side stiles, a plurality of glass slate of planar form, respectively, extending across said structure in upstanding position with lower edges overlapping the upper edges of subjacent slats, studs mounted on the ends of said slats at the lower corners thereof and journaled in said stiles in vertical alignment and whereby the slats are mounted to swing downwardly into open position, a slat-operating frame movable upwardly and downwardly of the frame structure to close and open the slats and having side members, respectively, studs mounted on the ends of the slats adjacent their upper edges and Journaled in the side members of said operating frame in vertical alignment, the first and second mentioned studs being oflset upon opposite sides of the median planes of the slats to overbalance said slats for downward swinging under the influence of gravity and the weight of said operatin frame, said slat-operating frame embodying a, bottom member abutting the lowermost slat and extending along the lowermost edge thereof when said slats are closed to form together with said bottom slat a seal at the bottom of the opening, the firstmentioned frame being provided with a drain slot extending along the bottom thereof and adapted to underlie said seal.

3. A closure for use in the opening formed by a doorway or the like comprising a rectangular frame structure adapted to fit in said opening and including side stiles, a plurality of glass slats extending across said structure in an upstanding position with lower edges overlapping the upper edges of subjacent slats, studs mounted on the ends of said slats at the .lower corners thereof and journaled in said stiles in vertical alignment and whereby the slats are mounted to swing downwardly into open position, a slat-operating frame movable upwardly and downwardly of the frame structure to close and open the slats, and having side members, respectively, studs mounted on the ends of the slats adjacent their upper edges and journaled in the side members of said operating frame in vertical alignment, the first and second mentioned studs being ofiset upon opposite sides of the median planes of the slats to overbalance said slats for downward swinging under the influence of gravity and the weight of said operating frame, and inner side stiles in said frame structure spaced from the first-mentioned side stiles to provide chambers, and guard Plates extending laterally from said slats into said chambers, said slat-operating frame having sides interfitting with the sides of the first-mentioned frame and overlapping the guard plates when the slats are closed to hide said plates from view.

LYLE BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

